A2 Media Studies – Roy Evans

Q1) What is your gender?

Q2) What is your age bracket?

Q3) Do you read newspapers?

Q4) What is the section you most look for in a newspaper?

Q5) Where are you most likely to look for your local news?

Q6) What is the most eye-catching feature of a billboard poster?

Q7) What attracts you most to read a

news article online?

Q8) What age category do you most

expect to read a newspaper?

What does this show – Target Audience?

Whilst the results of the questionnaire suggests that local newspapers are currently aimed at over 30’s, this should probably be my target audience.

However, the results show an open market for a youthful local newspaper and therefore this, along with other information gained from the questionnaire, lead me to believe that the correct target audience for my newspaper is 16 – 30.

I believe this because my main questionnaire audience was 15 – 18 and 19 – 25 years olds. This shows that I now have knowledge of what types of newspaper they would prefer or like to read and what contents there should be inside.

Not only this, but I believe a strong connection between my main task, the newspaper, alongside my ancillary tasks, namely billboard poster and website, will be successful.

Main Task - Newspaper

For my main task, the first two pages of a newspaper, this shows that I need to implement a more youthful attraction, such as images and more of a connection to the online market. This is shown through the answers gained to questions 5, 6 and 7 which suggests my intended audience prefer online for their news and also that images are fundamental to attracting them.

I also believe that an eye catching logo or title will help draw my target audience into my newspaper. This therefore leads me to believe a logo and one main image on the front of my newspaper along with some text will be the perfect, basic start to building the front cover of my newspaper.

All in all, I believe a more youthful approach to traditional news stories will be the best way to go to create a successful newspaper, perhaps with more connection to the online age than any current local or national newspaper holds.

Ancillary Task #1 – Billboard Poster

For my first ancillary task, I believe that an eye-catching main image is the most successful way to go to effectively anchor my main task, the newspaper. From question 6 it is clear to state that an image is the most eye-catching aspect of a billboard in terms of my target audience.

This shows that for my billboard poster, I should be aiming for one large image that will appeal to a more youthful audience alongside a small amount of text that anchors the image to full efficiency.

Initial ideas would be to anchor the idea I have had for page 2 of my local newspaper, the widely discussed topic of youth unemployment. I feel that perhaps a youth unemployment story, whilst not the most attractive images, would be idea for both newspaper and billboard poster.

I believe this because perhaps 3 youthful characters, 2 male and 1 female, wearing contrasting clothing, seemingly leaning against a wall would be the most ideal approach to a billboard poster. Seemingly anchored by text, this would be a great, eye-catching billboard poster for my target audience.

Ancillary Task #2 – Online Website

For my second ancillary task, the online website detailing two hyperlinked pages, I believe that the homepage and then a news page, connected to the first page of my newspaper, will be the best, initial way to go to be successful in linking all 3 of my tasks together.

The reason I believe the most successful way to go is by linking all 3 tasks together is that it will have a more youthful minded approach with the online world connecting to more traditional types of spreading news stories.

I believe that this connection between newspapers and online news websites, that is fairly non-existent in the current popular local and national newspapers, is key to making my newspaper effectively target my initial audience. It will also give the whole concept a professional feel that it was always my aim to do.